# UAE Work Visa Processing Time from India (2026) > A step-by-step 2026 timeline for Indians moving to the UAE on a job offer: who applies, ICP and MOHRE service times, the two 60-day windows and what slows a work visa down. _Published: 2026-10-28 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1131_ ## TL;DR Your UAE employer, not you, applies for the work visa. ICP lists 2 days each for the work entry permit and the residence permit, and MOHRE's Work Bundle handles the work permit and residence in about 5 working days. You must enter within 60 days of the entry permit and complete residence within 60 days of arrival. ## Key takeaways - The UAE employer applies for the work permit and entry permit; working without a MOHRE work permit is illegal under Article 6 of the UAE Labour Law. - ICP service completion time is 2 days each for the work entry permit and the residence permit. - MOHRE's Work Bundle takes about 5 working days (down from 30), with 5 steps and 2 in-person visits. - Enter the UAE within 60 days of entry-permit issue, then complete residence within 60 days of entry. - The standard work visa is valid for two years and renewable; UAE authorities publish fees in AED only. **According to the UAE's ICP, the work entry permit and the residence permit each take 2 days to issue once your employer applies, and MOHRE's Work Bundle cuts the work permit and residence steps to about 5 working days. You must enter within 60 days of the entry permit and finish residence formalities within 60 days of arrival.** ## Article These are official service times for each step, not a promise for your whole file. The total depends on how quickly your employer files, how fast you supply documents from India and how soon you finish the medical test after landing. Everything below is as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. ### How long does each stage of a UAE work visa take? A UAE work visa is a chain of permits. The employer starts it, you travel on the entry permit, and the residence visa is finished inside the UAE. StageWho actsOfficial timeOfficial feeMOHRE work permitEmployerWork Bundle (work permit and residence): about 5 working days, 5 steps, 2 in-person visitsAED 250 to AED 3,450, depending on the employer's MOHRE classification (A, B or C)Work entry permit (ICP)Employer2 days (ICP service completion duration)AED 100 application + AED 100 issuance + AED 100 smart serviceTravel to the UAEYouEnter within 60 days of the entry permit's issueNot applicableMedical fitness test, security check, Emirates ID applicationYou, with your employerNo separate time publishedNot captured in the official sources readResidence permit (ICP)Employer and you2 days; residence must be completed within 60 days of entryAED 100 application + AED 100 per year of residence + AED 100 smart serviceThe UAE government says the Work Bundle cut the combined work permit and residence process to about 5 working days, down from 30. The ICP figures are for ICP applications; Dubai residence fees go through GDRFA Dubai and were not published in the sources read. ### Who files the paperwork: you or your employer? Your employer. A UAE employer registered with MOHRE obtains the work permit and the entry permit for you. The UAE government states that working without a MOHRE work permit is illegal under Article 6 of the UAE Labour Law. VFS Global's UAE centres in India do not process work visas. They handle Dubai tourist and transit visas for Emirates passengers. Work, study and residence visas are applied for by the UAE employer, university or sponsor. Your part is the documents. For the work entry permit, ICP lists: - a passport valid for at least 6 months and a personal photo - a medical report and a medical fitness certificate for work - the employment contract (if you are bound by one) or an employer certificate - a travel ticket and a return ticket - an attested certificate of good conduct, for the categories ICP has announced - valid UAE health insurance MOHRE also sets employer-side rules. You must be at least 18 years old (with exceptions for a juvenile work permit at 15 to 18 and a student training permit). Your occupation must match the employer's business activity, and the employer's trade licence must be valid and free of violations. ### What happens in the 60 days after you land? The entry permit only lets you in. Within 60 days of entry you must complete residence formalities: - a medical fitness test (for applicants aged 18 and over), - a security check, and - the Emirates ID application. ICP then issues the residence permit, with a listed service time of 2 days. The standard work visa is valid for two years and can be renewed. A work permit issued to recruit you from outside the UAE is also valid for two years. If you entered on a different visa, such as a visit visa, ICP lists an in-country change of status at AED 500. ### What can delay or block a UAE work visa? MOHRE's published grounds for refusal mostly concern the employer. MOHRE may refuse, not renew or cancel permits when the employer: - provides incorrect documents, - is fictitious or inactive, or - does not comply with the Wages Protection System. Firms with listed violations are denied new permits. Regulated professions must also meet that profession's licensing conditions before a permit is issued. On your side, a missing attested good-conduct certificate or a passport with less than 6 months' validity can stop the entry permit. ### Is a job seeker visa a faster route if you have no offer yet? It can get you into the UAE quickly, but it is not a work visa. The job seeker visit visa lets you look for work without a UAE sponsor for 60, 90 or 120 days. GDRFA Dubai lists an expected completion time of 48 hours. - Fees (GDRFA Dubai): AED 200 (60 days), AED 300 (90 days) or AED 400 (120 days), plus 5% VAT. - Security amount: a refundable AED 1,000, plus AED 20 warranty and AED 40 guarantee collection fees. - Eligibility: MOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3, or a graduate of the world's top 500 universities within the last 2 years, with a bachelor's degree or equivalent. If you are hired, your employer still has to obtain the MOHRE work permit before you can start work. ### Before you resign in India: what to confirm - See the entry permit before you fly. It starts your 60-day entry window. - Check who pays the MOHRE fee. The work permit is paid by the employer. - Renew your passport early. ICP asks for at least 6 months' validity. - Budget in AED. UAE authorities publish work-visa fees in AED only; no official INR amounts exist. - Plan the medical test. Residence must be completed within 60 days of entry. For tourist, transit, student and long-term residence options, see our UAE visa guide for Indians. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp us at +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### How long is a UAE work visa valid? The standard employer-sponsored work visa is valid for two years and is renewable, according to the UAE government portal. The work permit used to recruit you from outside the UAE is also valid for two years. #### Can I apply for a UAE work visa at VFS in India? No. VFS Global's UAE centres in India handle Dubai tourist and transit visas for Emirates passengers. Work visas are applied for by the UAE employer through MOHRE and ICP (or GDRFA in Dubai). #### What is the minimum age for a UAE work permit? MOHRE requires workers to be at least 18 years old. Exceptions exist for a juvenile work permit for ages 15 to 18 and a student training permit; no upper age limit is published. #### Do I need health insurance for a UAE work entry permit? Yes. ICP lists valid UAE health insurance among the documents for a work entry permit, along with a medical fitness certificate, travel ticket and employment contract or employer certificate. ## FAQ ### How long is a UAE work visa valid? The standard employer-sponsored work visa is valid for two years and is renewable, according to the UAE government portal. The work permit used to recruit you from outside the UAE is also valid for two years. ### Can I apply for a UAE work visa at VFS in India? No. VFS Global's UAE centres in India handle Dubai tourist and transit visas for Emirates passengers. Work visas are applied for by the UAE employer through MOHRE and ICP (or GDRFA in Dubai). ### What is the minimum age for a UAE work permit? MOHRE requires workers to be at least 18 years old. Exceptions exist for a juvenile work permit for ages 15 to 18 and a student training permit; no upper age limit is published. ### Do I need health insurance for a UAE work entry permit? Yes. ICP lists valid UAE health insurance among the documents for a work entry permit, along with a medical fitness certificate, travel ticket and employment contract or employer certificate. ## Sources 1. [u.ae - Work permits (MOHRE types, conditions, cost, Work Bundle)](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/work-permits) — UAE Government (u.ae), content source MOHRE 2. [ICP - Issuance of a Visa (entry permit categories, fees, documents)](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e60) — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) 3. [ICP - Issuing Residency Permit (student and work categories, fees, documents)](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e64) — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) 4. [GDRFA Dubai - Visit visa to explore job opportunities (fees)](https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/2a679791-408a-11ed-4fe5-0050569629e8) — GDRFA Dubai